New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-02
THE yATr0NAL ACADEMY or DESIGN.
s1xrY.srcoNp AxNrAL ExmInITION.


sIxTY-sECOND ANNUAL EXHIBITION.
We are glad 10 congratulate the Academy upon the
best exhibition which il has held for many year The
difference bctween the exhibition first seen Yesterday
and fiat held last tall ia like the difference between
day and night No OF the spring exhibitions with
in our memory has approached this in point OF dscrm-
mating selection number OF important works ana
ninety sentative character 1t not 10 be ex-
nected that Academic privileges should be altogether
disrcq arded or that the exhibition throughout should
answer severe requirements. There are pictures some
upon the first line, whose presence would not oe
countcnanced by any intelligent amateur ihere are
signs decrepitude and there are also evidences OF
youthful weakness and presumption. Within certain
limits this was TO bee expected As the Academy arms
To be a representative organization, Ito eHhDltions
must be general in character and not confined 10
special preferences But the present exhibition shos
radical change In purpose tor which too much praise
cannot be given 10 the committee OF selection Inc
members have hesitdted TO exercise their privilege
of rejection. Out OF some ], 100 works they nave
accepted only 5C3 paintings and examples oil soniPt-
nre They have shown trae cathoioity III accepting
exhibition characterized by spirit OF iar play Tho
Objectionable features which have predomnated III
preyious exhibitions are com iaratiyely subordinate In
thia The conspicuous centre and other or
the hest places upon the walls have been assigned by
the Hanging Committee to OF the younger artists
and n NAV be added needed attention has been given
10 providing "a suitable back ground tor the pictures
This the smallest exhibition tor many years ana the
most encouraging. Nothing that the Academy mas
done has fHr toward MAKING IL pIdChitally 40
well as theoretically the institution which STANDS ior
American art The readc OF The TRIBUNE need not
be told that we have laborod earnestly Tor such a
CHANGE and We are confident that the purpose repro
scncd by this exhibition will receive cordial recogni-
Tho strongest department. of the exhibition is figure
paipting the portrait painters are out IN force; land
scape is represented less vigorously than usual there
are n few ideal and historical subjects and several
marines which are worth attention, and, strange to
saw there are examples OF sculpture enttled TO
respectful consideration, and exhibited IN the vest
gallery where they can be SEEN Little can De shid at
present OF individual pictures but such bret mention
as we can give mast be headed with Mr.. Winsow
Homors "Under-tow." There is more technically
good figure painting IN this exhibition than we nave
usually had There is Mr.. Moeer's Stubborn
three sk uly rendered figures in the centre OF the
south gallery. a picture remarkable in It's way Mr.
Clrich's ambitions composition in the north room. Mr.,
Eastman Johnson's well characterized Old Whaiers,
q strong bottle-piec by Mr. Gnul, good work by
Messrs Millet Mowhray and dozen others, but after
Mr.. Homers intense epic one must wait a niue or
other paintings of the figure will seem tame All nat
can be SAID ~ disprai7e OF MT Io,uet urt~ 49,
the pictures hold IL is impossible to follow out the
young girls form from head to feet and believe the
proportions truthful although in the upper part OF her
form there Is much charm of line Her arms thrown
about the older woman might indicate more tension
the gesture OF the latter hardly to the point and
the water is not always water And yet when 80 Wig
orous personality makes itself so strongly fet minor
slips In the OF expression are OF little conse-
0uence This is OF the rare pictures which take
the observer out OF himself The scene is dramatic,
the favorite word tor Mr.. Homcr's work, and yet 1t
will be
with much reserve lie has not depended upon violent
attitudnizng gesticulation. The face ct the
younger more exhausted baher is not seem The lite
saving men, wadng thigh-deep toward the shore with
the two helpless forms are entirely calm ana business
like Their superb figures are like sculpture In their
modelling and they have OF the prime qualities OF
sculpture in their physical grandeur and comparative
repose In his Bermuda sketches the artist suggested
such figure work but lie has hardly equalled in his
serious pictures these bronze heroes OF the sea-
Its pleasant to come upon such thoughtful work
Mr. Dewings Days" founded upon Emerson,s poem.
and the artists figures are not without mobility, al
though the symphony and lacklustre faces
SAVIOR OF uectation. In the same gallery are several
figure pieces addition to those OF Homer, johnson,
Moeer Gaul and Met which will arrest the visitors
progress There is another view OF the Photographic
interior when we have learned TO expect from Mr..
Ward there are tho usual negro genres Of haPpes and
little study :" Two Friends by Mr.. Woolt, which
shows growing feeling tor color in the VEIN OF
Francois Bonyin and clever outdoor figure stud
les by Mr.. Curran. In the north gallery is Mr..
Ulrclfs portrayal of tie wolknown priestly
mony, "Washing the Feet OF 5eggars, ST. Marks.
Venice" There is more doub: OF the artists skill
and talent than that his picture leaves cold,
although it is his most" important wcrk and deserves
notice at another time. Mr. Julian SCOTS memories
OF the war have taken now In LUCE painting OF
the death of General Sedgwick, a CHASTITY scene,
painted with care and labor aud some skill and un-
likely to afford pleasure 10 single human being Mr.
q. Y. Turner'S Sunday Morning. lowtoned figure
study good In character Mr.. Mowbrays Rose Festi-
val Mr.. +. c. Jones's Unexpected and Mr.. Mayors
First Communion are among the figure pieces oil tho
north gallery. Elsewhere We find figure work worth
notice by Messrs Lippncott, Church Caliga, Fowler.
Wiles, Harris and Green, with n charmi ing color
scheme by Mr. Ryder In which the figure 10 minor
part aud large painting by Mr.. DE rhulstrup OF the
battle OF Kenesan Mountain which lacks concentra
ton and force. Tho and Mr. SCOTS picture answer
tor historical art and Mr. Tylers Fortunes of War"
might be put in the class added to the marines
OF Arthur Quartey, and Messrs. De Haas and Edward
Moran In porrature the visitor begins with noble
pastel head by Rajon and pastels by Mi. Champney,
on the LENDING. and enters the galleries to find por-
traits OF General Logan and II. w. Sage by Mr. Hunt
ingon portrait OF Bishop Potter and another by Mr.
Johnson port alt OF George Fuller by f. l. Billings
| portraits OF President McCvsh. of Princeton, and
Henry G. Marquand by Munkacsy and Others by Miss
Emmett and Miss Brooks, Messrs. Beckwfh, Eaton,
Rice, Vnton, Wood aud Hoay. Mr.. Weir has sent
portrait OF child, admirably pained although the ex
preston leaves something to be desired. Lenton
Lilies" by Mary c. Richardson may be assumed to be
an ideaized portrait study and il is charming and
sympathetic picture, refined in Workmanship as in
preston.
There is no picture by Mr. Innoss Among the land
scapes recall NJ. Wyants Cloudy Weather"
characteristic and important" picture, and paintings
| of nv Messra Davis Clifford Mummy. Parton.